THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21,2016 3 Hearing planned today on offshore wind From Staff Reports State officials will par ticipate in a federal pub lic meeting today in Nags Head to accept comments from the public and answer questions about a proposed wind energy lease sale along the coast. The meeting will be held from from 5 to 8 p.m. at Jennette’s Pier, 7223 S. Virginia Dare Trail in Nags Head. The U.S. Depart ment of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is hosting the meeting. The federal agency is proposing to issue wind en ¬ ergy leases within an area offshore of Kitty Hawk. The leases would allow site assessment activities that would determine whether the areas are suitable for, and would support, com mercial-scale wind energy production. Site assess ment activities would be conducted between 2017 and 2022. While a state public meeting is not required, the state’s coastal agency is also evaluating whether the proposed federal ac tion is consistent with the enforceable policies of the state’s Coastal Manage ¬ ment Program. To assist in this evaluation, state officials are inviting the public to offer comments on the consistency of the proposed project with the state’s enforceable poli cies at this federal meeting. Residents can submit writ ten comments by Sept. 27 to Daniel Govoni, Policy Analyst, 400 Commerce Av enue, Morehead City, N.C. 28557, or by email to Dan iel. Govoni@ncdenr.gov, or in person at the meeting on Sept. 21. Comments will be considered in developing the state’s consistency re sponse. HARMONY Continued from 1 Essick and Keith Johnson represent opponents, a group of 29 people who own a combined 3,900 acres near the project. The county commission will be required to affirm the project will no (A) material ly endanger the public heath and safety, (B) the projects meets the required condi tions and specifications, (C) that is will not substantially injure the value of adjoining or abutting property or that the use is a public neces sity and (D) the location and character of the use is in har mony with the area and is in general conformity with the county land use plan. The last one — the issue of harmony — promoted a lot of debate in the first two nights of testimony. Lawyers for Apex made attempts last month to ask some of those testifying their opinion on if the proj ect was in harmony with the area and each time Es sick objected and each time Cole, as chairman, sustained the objection. ”I think I have consis tently ruled, or I have tried to consistently rule that I do not feel that these experts can give testimony as to harmony,” Cole said. “And no matter how many times it comes up, no matter how many reports it’s in, that is still going to be my position. “I don’t think there is any body more suited to make a decision about harmony than this board. The pur pose of experts is to give us infonnation about issues that we, as lay people, other wise would not have knowl edge of.” Unlike a traditional coun ty commission meeting, the Apex hearings resemble a court case. Lawyers for both Apex and opponents of the project present witnesses who must vetted as experts in their fields. The witnesses in turn get cross-examined by the attorneys represent ing the opposing side. A record of the testimony is in turn recorded by a certi fied court reporter. The tran scripts from the first two nights of testimony totaled nearly 400 pages. Experts talked about how tall the turbines might be - about 591 feet to the tip of the blade. They also talked about noise. Tracy Butler, Apex expert talked about doing a survey of adjoining homes. There are 38 within a mile of a tur bine and seven within a half mile. Johnson questioned asked Butler if he knew how many people lived in those homes. “No I do not,” Butler said. To which Johnson replied “Well 19 residents in half mile and three quarters of a mile, same questions. Do you know how many people five in those residences?” Butler said he didn’t. Then Johnson asked how many children were living in the homes, and Butler said he didn’t know. County conunission ap proval of the project does not guarantee it will move forward. About half of the project lies in Chowan Coun ty. Chowan is scheduled to hold hearings next week. Even if both bodies sign off, it will require the OK of fed eral and state agencies. CONCERT Continued from 1 will be “The Difference” from Newport News. The group specializes in the Motown Sound familiar to many generations. The group was formed in 2005 and their careers span over 35 years in the music indus try. They have performed at the Apollo Theater twice and have appeared at some of the area’s premier events such as The Virginia Beach Funk Fest, Hampton Jazz Festival’s After Party, The Virginia Beach Soul Fest, The African American Festival and the Virginia Beach Concert Series. “The Difference” has also been the opening act for national recording artists such as Glenn Jones, The Manhattans, Keith Sweat, The Ohio Players, Jagged Edge, Melissa Morgan and Cherrelle. Admission is $15 for general seating and $18 for reserve seating. Tickets are available at the door or in advance by calling 426- 5246. IF YOU GO... ■ What: 11th annual Schol arship Fund Raising Concert ■ Where: Perquimans County High School auditorium ■ When: Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. ■ Cost: Admission is $15 for general seating and $18 for reserve seating. The club is also celebrat ing along with Rotary Inter national its 100th anniversary of the Rotary Foundation. Founded in 1917, the founda tion is known for its work in providing clean water, fight ing disease, promoting peace, supporting education, saving mothers and children, grow ing local economies and erad icating polio. With its “Polio Plus” program it has helped eradicate polio through out the world. Through 2018 ev ery dollar Rotary commits to polio eradication will be matched two-to-one by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foun dation up to $35 million per year. LAWYER Continued from 1 fairly on the application. Chairman Janice Cole asked each one if they had been any ex parte communi cations with any parties in the case. Each commissioner, includ ing Peeler answered “no.” Then Cole read Section 1606 (B) of state law dealing with quasi-judicial hearings. “Impermissible violations of due process include, but are not limited to, a member having a fixed opinion prior to hearing the matter that is not susceptible to change, undis closed ex parte commission, a close familial, business or other associational relation ship with an affected person or a financial interest in the outcome of the matter.” Cole then asked if there was any reason any member of the board could not par ¬ ticipate in the quasi-judicial matter. All six, including Peeler, said “no.” In a letter to the county, Campen said Peeler’s e-mails show that he has had exten sive conversations regarding the wind turbine project and his opposition of them was ap parent long before the hearing and even after the Conditional Use Permit was filed. Campen said Peeler also provided tactical and strate- gic advice to opposes of the project. “The applicant is entitled to an impartial tribunal whether it consists of one person or 20 and since there is no way to quantitatively measure the influence of Commissioner Peeler on other commission ers, due process requires that Commissioner Peter be re cused.” Tuesday, September 27 through Saturday, October 1, 2016 AMERICAN LEGION FAIRGROUNDS US 17 Business (1317 West Queen Street), Edenton, North Carolina Take exit 224 off US 17 and North about two miles to the Fairgrounds. OPENING TIMES: TUES - FRI: 4PM, SAT: 11AM CLOSING TIMES: TUES - FRI: 11 PM, SAT: MIUNIGHT ^ TUESDAY $ 5 Elementary and Middle School 0 “ students admitted ~ ■ * FREE with paying adult * WEDNESDAY Elementary, Middle and High School students admitted half price THURSDAY0 SENIORS age 60 or older admitted FREE. J Elementary, Middle and High - School students admitted > half price ^. J SATURDAY “ - 11am - 4pm - MILITARY m ( DISCOUNT -1/2 Price for 0 . £ all Family Members 36" and J 0 taller, $10 armbands rK FRIDAY - No Discounts ADVANCE TICKETS *£*& 6° 0 w^ (Advance price does not include midway rides) Advance armband tickets for unlimited rides for $17 Advance armband does not include entrance GATE TICKET BRICES 2016 u^ 0 «- (Gate price does not include midway rides) To order advance tickets by mall, send your name, address, phone number and a check for the amount of tickets plus $1 for handling fee: Advance Tickets Chowan County Regional Fair PO Box 390 Edenton, NC 27932 Phone - 252-482-4057 Purchase advance tickets at select Colony lire and Duck Thru stores (starting Aug 1). Junior Fair Board Program Womanless Beauty Pageant Farmer for a Day Pumpkin Decorating Scavenger Hunt OLD FAVORITES Mechanical Bull (extra charge) It & S Woodcarvers Senior Citizen Fun Day Gospel Night Band Night ^ Little Miss Pageant Miss Pageant NEW FOR 2016 McNally’s Pig Racing Dakota and Friends (Kid’s Show) Herb McCandless (Comedy Hypnotist) Dreamland Amusements Hog Showmanship Show Chicken and Rabbit Show LED Railrood Celebrating Softs Check out our web site at www.ChowanFalr.com E-Mail: Info@chowanfalr.com The BEST entertainment value in ’Northeastern North Carolina! STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA UTILITIES COMMISSION RALEIGH DOCKET NO. E-22, SUB 536 BEFORE THE NORTH CAROLINA UTILITIES COMMISSION In the Matter of Application by Virginia Electric and Power Company, d/b/a Dominion North Carolina Power, for Approval of Demand Side Management and Energy Efficiency Cost Recovery Rider Pursuant to G.S. 62-133.9 and Commis sion Rule R8-69 PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the North Carolina Utilities Commission has scheduled a public hearing in the annual demand-side management (DSM) and energy efficiency (EE) cost recovery proceeding for Virginia Electric and Power Company, d/b/a Dominion North Carolina Power (DNCP). The public hearing has been scheduled to begin Monday, November 7, 2016, immediately following the 1:30 p.m. hearing in Docket No. E-22, Sub 534, in Commission Hearing Room 2115, Dobbs Building, 430 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina. This proceeding is being held pursuant to the provisions of G.S. 62- 133.9 and Commission Rule R8-69 for the purpose of determining whether an increment or decrement rider is required to allow DNCP to recover all reasonable and prudent costs incurred for adoption and implementation of new DSM and new EE measures and appropriate incentives. Public witness testimony will be received in accordance with Commission Rule Rl-21(g). On August 16, 2016, DNCP filed its application for approval of DSM/EE cost recovery pursuant to G.S. 62-133.9 and Commission Rule R8-69. By its applica tion, DNCP requests a DSM/EE cost recovery rider effective for service rendered on and after January 1, 2017. This request, exclusive of the regulatory fee, would result in the following kilowatt-hour (kWh) charges: 0.062 cents per kWh for residential customers; 0.060 cents per kWh for small general service and public authority customers; 0.054 cents per kWh for large general service customers. No DSM/EE rate rider would be applicable to rate schedules 6VP, NS, outdoor lighting and traffic lighting customers. Specific information may be obtained from the Office of the Chief Clerk, North Carolina Utilities Commission, Raleigh, North Carolina, where a copy of DNCP’s application is available for review by the public, and on the Commission’s website atwww.ncuc.net. The Public Staff is authorized by statute to represent consumers in proceedings before the Commission. Written statements to the Public Staff should include any information that the writers wish to be considered by the Public Staff in its investigation of the matter. Such statements should be addressed to Christopher J. Ayers, Executive Director, Public Staff 4326 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-4300. The Attorney General is also authorized by statute to represent consumers in proceedings before the Commission. Statements to the Attorney General should be addressed to The Honorable Roy Cooper, Attorney General, 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27699-9001. Written statements are not evidence unless persons appear at a public hearing and testify concerning the information contained in their written statements. Any person desiring to intervene in the proceeding as a formal party of record should file a petition under North Carolina Utilities Commission Rules RI-5 and RI-19 on or before Monday, October 24, 2016. Such petitions should be filed with the Chief Clerk of the North Carolina Utilities Commission, 4325 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-4300. The direct testimony and exhibits of expert witnesses to be presented by interveners should also be filed with the Commission on or before Monday, October 24, 2016. ISSUED BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION. This the 31st day of August, 2016. NORTH CAROLINA UTILITIES COMMISSION Janice H. Fulmore, Deputy Clerk